Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-18
= ,1AsKAN pOTLATCH.

W Their 1ftO0t DtUefS1sce8s
IN Sunday last five canoes of Sitka
,;o,s arrived at the AUX village, just
w." wa town, says the juneau (Alaska)
w. Press. 1t was the occasion of no
10 excitement among the Auks, for
s;tkans, as is usual upon such
10 made demand of 100 blankets
remuneration for injuries men,
y Of their tribe had received two
ar, ago while engaged in cut-and-
sb with an AUX Indian, in which the
,kan got decidedly the worst of the
ttle. The Auks refused to accede to
demand, the result of which was
general go-as-you-please, in which
ives took prominent part as set
Prs of the dispute. During the melee
Of the Auks received n severe cut
the hand, upon which he set up a
wi demanding pay from the Sitkans
the wound he had received at their
pds. It now being stand-off, in
1t members of both tribes had re-
we'd injuries one from the other,
ace was declared, providing the
hks would tender to their visitors a
and potlatch feast and dance). The
ks. who are q weaker tribe than the
tkans, consented, the ball was
ened. About once year the Sitkans
he over and run bluff on their
aker ncighbors, during which they
ike love to their most buxom squaws
gorge themselves until the leaders
their hosts are well-nigh exhausted.
-pcn the evening of the dance the
ties Of Juneau were informed of the
asion and requested to come as
Ectators. The band boys, for the
relty of the thing, determined to
enade the sons Of the forest and
IN up THAR ball in style that Mr..
had never seen the like of before.
rordingly the band and white spec
prs formed the line of march at the
skirts of the village, and, to the
e of prisoners Hope" and "March-
Through Georgia." marched up
ough the village, coming to halt
front of Chief Cow-ee's residence.
hough the odor Of the dried salmon
seal grease somewhat choked the
gers, they managed to finish the
lin. The old chief gave them
IN welcome and extended to the
d the great honor Of leading forth
dancers, who We're already costumed
ready. The band again formed
line Of march, with the war chief
r-kleck in front as drum-major and
ht twenty-five Indian dancers, hid
sly painted and dressed in costumes
imitation of the bear, fox, eagle,
N, goose, and other animals, inter-
rsed throughout with bits of bright
bring, brought up the rear.
[he procession came to stop IN
BIT of the hall, shake cabin some
nty by forty feet. Upon the floor
de, packed as close as sardines in
sat men, women, and children.
rows of squaws occupy the front,
in perfect tune and with powerful
rcise of their lungs sing chorus to
chant of the dancers. At given
al from the chief, who acts as
r-manager, the music strikes up; !
there follows flourish Of swan
IS, and the dancers commence
Ing and dancing. The excitement
lually increases, until they fairly
!, some barking like dogs, some
Wing like bears. They grin and
sh their teeth, and comfort their
es in all shapes that their joints
muscular development will admit
Sweat begins to ooze from every
in their bodies. One strives to
10 the other, for he is considered
best dancer who can howl the
lest, grin the fercest, and comfort
most. After the first set is finished
cket of water is passed around,
which each dancer takes an enorm-
pull, all drinking out of the bucket,
after about minutes's rest the
performance above described is
through with.